Sir, - Over the past few weeks the views of the Irish section of Amnesty International (AI) seems to have been much in the spotlight. Some of the issued concerned alleged racist attacks (which involved some full-page newspaper advertisements), an "audit report" on Ireland's human rights performance, and an anti-deportation campaign.
In the previous 12 months, the Irish section of Amnesty has been involved in promoting the ratification of the International Criminal Court, and other changes in the Irish Constitution.
Having been a campaigner myself, with others, for human rights in this country over a number of years, I can only express great surprise that Amnesty is now engaging in campaigns on domestic issues.
This is because I have, in the past, sought Amnesty's support on such domestic matters as extradition, the right to life and the defence of human rights defenders. The consistent answer I have always got is that it is AI policy that the local section does not comment on issues in its own jurisdiction for (understandable) reasons of independence and impartiality. Irish issues thus fall to be dealt with by the AI section of another country.
It is curious that the intensification of PR activity for Amnesty should have coincided with a referendum for the ratification of the International Criminal Court, arising from which AI's Irish section might find itself in a new position of power.
Amnesty's Irish supporters are, I believe, entitled to ask when its policy of non-intervention changed, why it changed, and if the is change confined to the Irish section of AI. - Yours, etc.,
Richard Greene, Chairman, Irish Civil Rights Association, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14.